H.L. Mencken's views on women had garnered a reputation as inconsistent and confused based on his early newspaper columns and plays. In 1918 Mencken published this book on the subject, but rather than clearing his name the work only muddied the waters further. Some critics called the book progressive while others condemned it as reactionary. In true Mencken fashion, however, the work is best considered "ironic": rather than defend women, the book offers Mencken's critique of the relationship between the sexes.
